Turkey visa and entry requirements: visa-free stays, documents, validity
The nationalities Sabaro follows can visit Turkey as tourists without a visa for up to 90 days. Depending on nationality, an ID card is accepted or a passport is required; the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks for a document valid 60 days beyond the length of stay, that is 150 days for 90 days. You may not take more than the equivalent of 5,000 dollars in Turkish lira out of the country.
Checked on 22 October 2026
No visa for a tourist stay
For a tourist stay, the nationalities Sabaro follows enter Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days; most ministries specify "in any 180-day period", continuous or split. Leaving the country for a day no longer starts a new 90-day period. The visa exemption is not an absolute right of entry: border police have the final say.
The Turkish authorities' electronic visa (e-Visa) is only for nationalities that are not exempt, travelling for tourism or business.
What depends on your nationality
The document accepted, its validity and the details for minors and dual nationals depend on nationality:
Entry requirements
| Nationality | Visa | Travel document | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | No visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, continuous or split | National ID card or passport, valid for at least 150 days after the date of entry and in good condition; an expired passport is not accepted. An ID card extended by five years is officially accepted, but a valid passport is strongly recommended | France Diplomatie, Conseils aux voyageurs, Entrée / séjour (Site last updated 15 September 2026) |
| Details: Minor travelling without one of their parents: ID card or passport valid 150 days after entry and a return travel authorisation signed by the parent(s) (service-public.fr form). French-Turkish dual nationals: carry a valid French document for the return; the Turkish authorities do not always inform the consulate of an arrest. Always carry ID. Registration on Fil d'Ariane recommended. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French citizens entering with their ID card are exempt from the 150-day validity rule, and a French passport expired for less than five years is accepted; France Diplomatie nevertheless requires 150 days' validity and states that an expired passport is not accepted. Travelling with a document valid for at least 150 days avoids any refusal, at boarding or on arrival | |||
| Belgian | No visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days | See the official page | SPF Affaires étrangères (Belgique), Voyager en Turquie, Informations pratiques (Site last updated 2 July 2026) |
| Details: Belgian (European) driving licences are valid. Travel insurance with assistance, repatriation and legal cover is considered absolutely necessary. Belgian-Turkish dual nationals: no Belgian consular assistance in Turkey; exit bans have been reported. Registration on Travellers Online recommended. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, entry is possible with an ID card, with no 150-day validity requirement; a Belgian passport expired for less than five years is accepted; otherwise, the passport must remain valid for 60 days after the end of the stay, i.e. 150 days for a 90-day stay | |||
| Swiss | See the official page | The FDFA asks travellers to always carry their passport or ID card for checks — See the official page | DFAE (Département fédéral des affaires étrangères, Suisse), Conseils pour les voyages – Turquie (Site last updated 30 September 2026) |
| Details: Swiss-Turkish dual nationals: treated exclusively as Turkish, in principle without Swiss consular protection; those liable for military service should check with the Turkish representation before travelling, as they could be called up. Major medical procedures and hospital stays must be paid in advance. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, entry is possible with an ID card, with no 150-day validity requirement; a Swiss passport expired for less than five years is accepted; otherwise, the passport must remain valid for 60 days after the end of the stay, i.e. 150 days for a 90-day stay | |||
| British | No visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for tourism or business, on a full 'British citizen' passport; other British passport types should check with the Turkish Embassy | Passport with an expiry date at least 150 days after the date you arrive and at least 1 blank page | GOV.UK (FCDO), Turkey, Entry requirements (Site last updated 19 October 2026) |
| Details: Carrying photo ID is a legal requirement. When leaving Turkey with a dual British-Turkish child aged 18 or under, you may need permission from the Turkish parent; some hotels refuse under-17s without a parent unless written consent is provided. Driving: a 1968 international driving permit, obtained in the UK, or a UK licence notarised in Turkish; the 1949 permit is no longer accepted; a green card for third-party insurance is required | |||
| German | No visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; leaving for a day no longer starts a new 90-day stay. The exemption does not give an absolute right of entry | Passport, temporary passport, ID card or child passport, accepted even if expired for up to one year; temporary ID card accepted but not recommended. A passport needs one blank page | Auswärtiges Amt, Türkei: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise, « Einreise und Zoll » (Site last updated 20 October 2026) |
| Details: No special rules for minors travelling alone or with one parent if they left Germany legally; a German-Turkish child needs a German document to return to Germany. German-Turkish dual nationals: treated only as Turkish, consular help limited or impossible; leave on the passport used to enter. Germans, especially those with ties to Turkey, have been refused entry or arrested over social media posts or activities in Germany. German driving licences are recognised for tourist stays. Travel health insurance with repatriation strongly recommended | |||
| Dutch | No visa for stays of up to 90 days with a Dutch passport or ID card; for longer stays, check with the Turkish embassy in the Netherlands | Passport or ID card valid for at least 150 days on arrival; a passport needs at least 1 blank page | Nederland Wereldwijd (ministère néerlandais des Affaires étrangères), Reisadvies Turkije (Site last updated 16 October 2026) |
| Details: Each child needs their own passport or ID card; an adult travelling alone with children under 18 should carry the documents required for travelling with a minor. Dutch driving licences are valid. Dutch-Turkish dual nationals: treated as Turkish; questioning, phone searches, arrest or exit bans are possible. Always carry your passport or ID card. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch citizens entering with their ID card are exempt from the 150-day validity rule; the Dutch ministry requires 150 days for both passport and ID card | |||
| Luxembourgish | Not checked by Sabaro: see mae.gouvernement.lu | ||
| Irish | Not checked by Sabaro: see ireland.ie (DFA) | ||
| Swedish | Not checked by Sabaro: see Regeringen (UD) | ||
| Danish | Not checked by Sabaro: see Udenrigsministeriet (um.dk) | ||
| Norwegian | Not checked by Sabaro: see Regjeringen | ||
| Polish | Not checked by Sabaro: see Odyseusz (MSZ) | ||
| Czech | Not checked by Sabaro: see MZV ČR | ||
| Austrian | Not checked by Sabaro: see BMEIA | ||
| Italian | Not checked by Sabaro: see Viaggiare Sicuri | ||
| Spanish | Not checked by Sabaro: see exteriores.gob.es | ||
| Portuguese | Not checked by Sabaro: see Portal das Comunidades | ||
| Finnish | Not checked by Sabaro: see Ulkoministeriö (um.fi) | ||
Rules change: always check the official website before you travel.
Two rules come up in several ministries' advice:
- 150 days' validity. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires a document valid for at least 60 days beyond the authorised stay, that is 150 days for a 90-day stay. It exempts nationals admitted on their ID card, but some European ministries apply the 150-day rule to ID cards too. Sabaro advises a document valid for at least 150 days after arrival, which meets each of these rules.
- One blank page. A passport needs at least one blank page for the entry stamp.
A damaged passport, or one reported lost or stolen, leads to refusal of entry.
Minors and dual nationals
- Each child needs their own document, passport or ID card.
- Minors travelling without one of their parents. Depending on the child's nationality, a travel authorisation signed by the absent parent or parents may be required: the table above gives your country's rule. Before you leave, check France Diplomatiediplomatie.belgium.beDFAE (eda.admin.ch)mae.gouvernement.luGOV.UK (FCDO)ireland.ie (DFA)Auswärtiges AmtRegeringen (UD)Udenrigsministeriet (um.dk)RegjeringenOdyseusz (MSZ)MZV ČRBMEIANederland WereldwijdViaggiare Sicuriexteriores.gob.esPortal das ComunidadesUlkoministeriö (um.fi).
- Children who are also Turkish nationals. When leaving Turkey, the Turkish parent's permission may be requested. Some hotels refuse under-17s who are not travelling with a parent, unless written consent is provided.
- Dual nationals. Turkey treats a dual national as a Turkish citizen: consular help from their other country is limited or impossible, and its authorities are not always informed of an arrest. Dual nationals leave on the passport they entered with, and carry a document from their other country for the return. Men liable for Turkish military service should check with a Turkish consulate before travelling.
Several ministries report refusals of entry, exit bans and arrests linked to social media posts, including a share or a "like" made from abroad; dual nationals and travellers with family ties in Turkey are most affected. The guide Safety in Turkey covers this in detail.
Money and customs
- Money. Foreign currency and Turkish lira can be brought in without limit. You may not take more than the equivalent of 5,000 US dollars in Turkish lira out of Turkey; other currency above that amount must be declared to customs on departure, and you may need to show where it came from.
- Antiquities. Turkish law interprets "antiquity" very broadly: old coins, fossils, stones or objects recovered from the sea can bring prison, a heavy fine and confiscation. A new carpet leaves with its invoice; an old one needs a museum certificate.
- E-cigarettes. Importing and possessing them is prohibited.
- Drones. A drone of 500 g or more must be registered with the Turkish civil aviation authority; foreign operators request flight permission 20 working days in advance.
- Photography. Photographing official and military buildings is forbidden.
- Medicines. Narcotics are banned, including medical cannabis; keep your medicines in their packaging, with the prescription.
Driving in Turkey
- Licence. Depending on nationality, your national licence is recognised for a tourist stay, or an international permit is required: the entry requirements table gives your country's rule.
- Drink-driving. Your licence is withdrawn on the spot.
- Accidents. Do not move the vehicle before the police report, and keep a copy. If someone dies, the driver is detained until a judge rules, and any accident can lead to an exit ban.
- Emergencies. Police: 155; gendarmerie: 156.
Read next
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter Turkey with an ID card?
It depends on nationality: several European countries' citizens are admitted with their ID card, others must show a passport. The entry requirements table in this guide gives your country's rule.
How long can I stay in Turkey without a visa?
Up to 90 days, within a 180-day period according to most ministries. Leaving for a day no longer starts a new 90-day period.
How long must my document be valid for Turkey?
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires 60 days beyond the length of stay, that is 150 days for 90 days. Sabaro advises a document valid for at least 150 days after arrival.
Do I need an e-Visa for Turkey?
No, for the nationalities Sabaro follows, which are visa-exempt for tourist stays. The e-Visa is for nationalities that are not exempt.
Can I vape in Turkey?
No. Importing and possessing e-cigarettes is prohibited.
Official sources
- France Diplomatie, Turquie, Entrée / séjour (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Ministère turc des Affaires étrangères, Visa information for foreigners (accessed 22 October 2026)
- SPF Affaires étrangères (Belgique), Voyager en Turquie, Informations pratiques (accessed 22 October 2026)
- DFAE (Suisse), Conseils pour les voyages, Turquie (accessed 22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO), Turkey, Entry requirements (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Auswärtiges Amt, Türkei: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Nederland Wereldwijd, Reisadvies Turkije (accessed 22 October 2026)
- France Diplomatie, Turquie, Informations utiles (accessed 22 October 2026)
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